KUALA LUMPUR – The Education Ministry must explain “questionable” do’s and don’ts on the ongoing Palestine Solidarity Week programme in Malaysian schools, such as not giving a one-sided perspective on the Israel-Gaza war.
Newly minted PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (Alor Star-PN) said the ministry has to clarify its recently posted guidelines as “supporting both parties would be counterproductive”.
“For the solidarity week, our stance is clearly to support the fight of the Palestinian people. The other side is Israel,” he said in a press conference in Parliament today.
“If the (desired) image is to be balanced, does this mean that schools and students must display the image of Zionist Israel? Is this what you mean?
“The purpose of the week is to support Palestine, not both parties. If so, then there would be no meaning or firm stance from us.”
A few days ago, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (Nibong Tebal-PH) posted an infographic on guidelines for the Palestine Solidarity Week, which began on October 29, on her X (formerly Twitter) account.
Besides a one-sided perspective, “extremist rhetoric”, blaming other religions, and manipulation of facts were also discouraged during the programme carried out between October 29 and November 3.
Afnan’s concerns were in line with Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN), who questioned yesterday if the ministry wanted educators and students to portray Israel’s point of view.
Meanwhile, Afnan asked the ministry to verify a social media post by a teacher known as Mohd Fadli Salleh, which depicted that a school was allegedly prohibited from chanting the “takbir” and “Qunut Nazilah” – a prayer often recited during calamities.
The post, which showed a screenshot of a WhatsApp message, also claimed that the school was not allowed to bring flags, although the nationality was not mentioned.
Afnan said he has submitted his questions for the upcoming ministries’ question time, and hoped Fadhlina would answer them.
Schools not a place for conflict?
The Alor Star MP also took the opportunity to address the post by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan-PH) that said schools were not places for “conflicts, extremist understandings, and violence”.
Afnan questioned whether Nga meant the students donning headbands and toy guns akin to Hamas were considered violent, while also pointing out that another school held a Japanese-themed programme with samurai swords.
If so, he said the minister’s comments contradicted those made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This came after Anwar said Malaysia received demarches from the United States embassy here due to its unwillingness to object to the actions of Hamas and consider the group terrorists.
Last Saturday, Nga tweeted that schools should be places where humanitarian and peace-loving values are instilled rather than extremist understandings, and that those who abuse their power and responsibility should face disciplinary action.
Yesterday, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Pasir Mas-PN) also criticised Nga’s statement, describing it as “one-sided” and “dangerous”. – November 1, 2023